Webb won't seek reelection  —  Virginia Democratic Senator Jim Webb plans to announce today that he won't seek reelection, the Senator confirmed Wednesday.  —  Webb appeared likely to face a rematch with former Senator George Allen, whom he beat in a bruising 2006 contest.

Patriot Act extension fails in the House by seven votes  —  House Republicans suffered an embarrassing setback Tuesday when they fell seven votes short of extending provisions of the Patriot Act, a vote that served as the first small uprising of the party's tea-party bloc.

Obama's Approval Rating on Deficit Sinks to New Low  —  Egypt ranks among issues on which Obama is best rated  —  PRINCETON, NJ — President Barack Obama's approval rating for handling the federal budget deficit has gone from bad to worse in recent months, even as his ratings …

Arianna Huffington's ideological transformation  —  Did Arianna Huffington just sell out her fellow progressives?  —  In the literal sense, she undoubtedly has: The sale of Huffington Post to AOL for $315 million (including a large pile of cash going to Huffington herself) …

Under Banner of Fiscal Restraint, Republicans Plan New Abortion Bills  —  WASHINGTON — All but invisible during the midterm elections, the abortion debate has returned to Congress.  —  Invoking the mantra of fiscal restraint that has dominated House action since lawmakers reconvened last month …

Democrats: Justice Thomas should recuse himself in healthcare reform case  —  A group of 73 House Democrats on Wednesday demanded U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recuse himself from any case examining the constitutionality of healthcare reform.  —  Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) …

ABC7 poll: Emanuel leading mayor's race  —  ABC7's exclusive poll on the Chicago mayor's race provides a snapshot of how the candidates are doing as we head into the final two weeks of the campaign.  —  Rahm Emanuel's 54 percent share in the survey suggests an overwhelming lead …

RNC's former Tampa convention team spent $1 million  —  TAMPA - They rented an exclusive waterfront mansion, wined and dined at five-star restaurants and hired family members and friends, all on the taxpayers' dime.  —  Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele's 2012 convention team based …

Saudi oil reserves ‘overstated by 40%’  —  US diplomat convinced by Saudi expert that reserves of world's biggest oil exporter have been overstated by nearly 40%  —  • Peak oil alarm revealed by secret official talks  —  • Datablog: Are we running out of oil?

Why Egypt Should Worry China  —  print recommend Send link clip secure rights  —  BERKELEY - A strictly economic interpretation of events in Tunisia and Egypt would be too simplistic - however tempting such an exercise is for an economist.  That said, there is no question …

Breaking the Sarah Palin Trademark Story: A Lesson in Journalism Ethics … Sometimes a light bulb goes off.  —  One night at 2 a.m. I was reading a story by Matt Lewis about Herman Cain, a possible 2012 presidential candidate from Georgia.  Pursuing the Cain story further …

Insurance reality hits House GOP  —  Ask any House Republican about repealing President Barack Obama's health care law, and you'll get the same fiery, self-assured talking points about tearing down what Speaker John Boehner has called a “monstrosity.”  —  But talk to some of the 16 freshman lawmakers …

Apple's New iPad in Production  —  Apple Inc. has started manufacturing a new version of its iPad tablet computer with a built-in camera and faster processor, said people familiar with the matter.  —  The new iPad will be thinner and lighter than the first model, these people said.

Former Members Get Millions From Pensions  —  Taxpayers are likely to foot the bill for at least $26 million in pensions for former Members of Congress this year, even as Congress embraces austerity by curbing its annual pay raises and voting to slash office budgets.

Protest in Egypt Takes a Turn as Workers Go on Strike  —  CAIRO — Protesters demanding the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak appeared on Wednesday to have recaptured the initiative in their battle with his government, demonstrating a new ability to mobilize thousands to take over Cairo's streets beyond …

Rep. Allen West receives plum speaking slot at conservative gathering  —  Freshman Tea Party Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) will deliver the coveted closing speech on Saturday at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).  —  West, the headline-grabbing lawmaker and former Army officer …

Republicans Mintz, Webb, weighing bids for Harman's seat  —  Two more Republicans could soon jump in the race to succeed resigning Democratic Rep. Jane Harman in the 36th Congressional District.  —  Redondo Beach City Attorney Mike Webb said yesterday he is “strongly considering” running for the seat.

Republicans Call For Defunding Half-Finished Stimulus Projects They Once Supported And Took Credit For  —  Nearly every Republican voted against the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, commonly known as the stimulus.  But the majority of the GOP caucus later took credit for dozens of successful local stimulus jobs and projects.